04 



IRISH GARDENING. 



into frames Asters anJ other liali-liard,y annuals. 

 I-larly floM'ering border Chrysanthemums can noM' 

 be planted wliere they are intended to flower. Make 

 new plantations of Violets. The ground for them 

 should be enriched Avith some well rotted manure. 

 AYallfloweris and other spring bedding Avill now be 

 coming into bloom., give the beds a scuffle over to 

 freshen them up after the winter. Hyacinths 

 must have neat stakes placed to them before they 

 get top heavy and fall over. Give lawns a good 

 rolling. The grass will now be growing fast, and 

 must be kept mowed regularl.y. 



Midland and Northern Counties. 



Jiy E. lirTHERFOJiD, t^ate Gardener to C. W. 



Dunbar Bulleb, Esq., D.L., Woburn, 



Donaghadee. 



Asparagus. — Clear the beds of weeds and stir the 

 surface lightly. I^ight soils should receive a 

 dressing of isalt, but ^A-here the soil is heavy and 

 cold wait until the soil is warmed before applying. 



Broa'd Beans'.' — Make; a final sowing in rich 

 deeply cultivated ground to provide late su]i- 

 plies. These lat-e plants are usually attacked by 

 l)lack aphis, therefore as soon as sufficient pods 

 have formed pinch out the tops of the plants. 



Carrots. — The main crop of Carrots may now 

 be sown. Select a deep soil that was well manured 

 for a previous crop and well prepared by deep 

 digging during the winter. A heavy dressing of 

 wood ashes will help to protect them from the 

 grub. Sow in drills 14 inches apart. Monument 

 and St. Valery are very good sorts. 



Celery. — Make another sowing of Celery to 

 obtain plants for a late supply. Germinate and 

 grow the seedlings in cool conditions; when fit to 

 handle the seedlings may be pricked out into a 

 cool frame over which spread a couple of inches 

 of rotten manure and fine soil. Damp over and 

 shade from strong sunshine for a few days. After- 

 wards admit air, increasing the amount gradually 

 until the lights are removed entirely. 



Bkl4.ns> Kidney. — Make a sowing towards the 

 end of the month if the ground is in good order on 

 a warm sheltered border. Sow in drills ■ Ih feet 

 apart and 2 inches deep placing the seeds 3i inches 

 apart. As soon as the rough leaves appear thin 

 out the plants to about 8 inches apart. 



Brassica. — Broccoli, Savoys, Brussels Sprouts, 

 Borecole seeds of the most approved sorts may 

 now be sown. Make a good seed bed; sow in 

 shallow drills 14 inches apart. To prevent con- 

 fusion eac'h sort should be correctly labelled. 



VeCtETAbtj^ Marrow. — An early sowing may be 

 made in pots in heat for planting in frames on a 

 spent hotbed, plant on a mound of good loam, 

 admit air on fine days, and gradually harden off 

 and remove lights when all danger of frost is 

 over. 



Onions. — Transplant the Onions sown in heat as 

 previously advised, the ground having been well 

 manured and deeply dug during the winter. 

 Fork the ground over' and break all lumps. The 

 grotmd ;should be trodden over tb make firm. 



IMaiit in I'ows 12 inches apart and 4 inches apart 

 in the roA\'S. 



Peas. — To be sowji again for succession accord- 

 ing to probable requirements. Earth up such Peas 

 as are in want of it. It is important to stake them 

 earlj- and to stake them -well. Tlie size of the 

 sticks being according to the height of the 

 variety. 



Potatoes for the main crop should be now got 

 in. Give plenty of air to Potatoes in frames on 

 fine days. 



Cauliflowers.— Continue to plant Cauliflowers 

 out of frames. Showery weather being most 

 favourable. 



The Flower. Garden. 



Hardy Annuals- may now be sown; fork the 

 borders over lightly and break all lumps, the soil 

 should be made fine by raking, scatter the seeds 

 thinly, and cover lightly with finely sifted soil. 

 A dusting with soot and lime will help to j^rotect 

 them from slugs. The seedlings should be thinned 

 before the plants; become crowded. The best 

 Hardjf Annuals are Larkspur, Lavatera, Clarkia, 

 Candytuft, Mignonette, Godetia, Nigella, Core- 

 opsis, Nasturtium, Poppies. 



Bedding Plants. — ^Continue to propagate and 

 harden off those that are well rooted, so that they 

 may be strong for growing and flowering through 

 the summer. All soft-wooded plants take to their 

 quarters better if they have a layer of decayed 

 manure to rott in, and they also transplant 

 better. 



SOAVING AND PrICKING OuT OF HaLF-HARDY 



Annuals. — Half-hardy Annuals may still be sown 

 in heat. Many of such as were sown last month 

 may now be pricked out into frames and covered 

 with lights. 



Hardy Fruit Trees. 



Grafting Fruit Treesi. — Healthy Apple Trees 

 of inferior varieties make excellent stocks for re- 

 grafting with more suitable sorts, trees that were 

 headed down during winter should have a few 

 more inches taken off whenever the sap is rising, 

 to enable the grafts to be inserted in sound bark. 

 There are several methods of grafting which can 

 be done with success. Crown grafting is the best 

 for trees of a large size. The scions having been 

 partly buried in a moist border should be taken 

 out of the soil and the graft made 6 inches long 

 retaining three or four buds. Make an incision 

 in the bark of the stock, cut the lower end of 

 graft in a sloping direction, and insert the latter 

 in the incision made in the stock. Bind the two 

 together closely, but not too tightly, with matting, 

 and smear over the part Avith grafting wax or clay. 

 AYatch the graft during dry weather for signs of 

 cracking in the clay which must be closed by 

 damping it and squeezing together by the hand. 



Whip or Tongue Grafting is adopted when 

 grafting young stocks. Remove the top of stock at 

 the joint, and make a elit in the bark in an up- 

 right direction. Cut the scion to fit in the slit 

 already made with a slight shoulder to fit on the 

 top of the stock. A tongue having been made in 

 the stock and a similar one in the scion, fit them 

 perfectly together. Tie the scion to the stock 

 firmlv. Cover with clav or wax. 



